Abstract:

Participant observation is one of the basic research methods in sociology and anthropology, and its main traits includes observing their world of daily life from the perspective of insiders, recording and analyzing the materials to break through in theory. This article, integrated with a case study of migrant worker in decoration industry, discusses about 6 issues in the practice of participant observation, including 1) the selection and entrance of field in participant observation, 2) the researcher’s inside role, 3) establishing and maintaining the relationship in the field, 4) the observation, interview and recording in the participant observation, 5) objectivity and neutrality of the participant observation, 6) the joint construction of research subject. The article proposed several strategies in participant observation, including playing inside role, building trust and the mutually beneficial relationship, relying on key person, showing details of research process, and finally proposed that the research subject in participant observation is constructed by researcher and insiders together.